Fiona Black, Director of Programming at the BlueShore at CapU (and many other places), tells us about the North Shore-based programming coming up in June as part of the Festival:
The North Shore Jazz Series in partnership with the TD Vancouver International Jazz Festival returns for a virtual edition for 2021. We just couldn’t let two years roll by without another edition, so we’re back with some online offerings to keep your groove on. We will miss seeing you in the sunshine of Civic Plaza and enjoying a beverage in the lobby of the BlueShore, but let’s do our best to stay connected through our screens. If the public health measures do allow, we’ll happily welcome audiences to our BlueShore shows. Stay tuned.
We’re very happy to be partnering once again with the West Vancouver Memorial Library for a free performance on June 25th at 7:30 p.m., that will feature the Paul Pigat Trio live streamed from the Library stage. Then we’ll go live to Barbes Bar in Brooklyn, New York, for a set with noir-jazz sensation Big Lazy. As a special encore that conjures a little internet magic, Big Lazy’s Stephen Ulrich and Paul Pigat will perform a couple of tunes together from both sides of the continent.
Next up on June 26th at 8 p.m., we’ll be live streaming from the BlueShore stage with Suzie Ungerleider (formerly known as Oh Susanna). No stranger to our BlueShore audiences, Suzie’s debut on our stage was in 2010 when she was a highlight of our Mississippi Sheiks tribute. A Vancouver born-and-raised hell raiser, Suzie and compadres Veda Hille and Kinnie Star formed the Scrappy Bitches in the late ’90s, the start of a formidable musical kinship that spawned legendary tales. As a solo singer-songwriter, Suzie has consistently produced deeply satisfying tunes with emotional depth and intriguing melodies coupled with her compelling, soulful voice.
The fun on the BlueShore stage continues on June 28th at 8 p.m., with an homage to Miles Davis’ electric period featuring some of Vancouver’s most revered players. A deep reverence for such legendary recordings as Bitches Brew, On the Corner and In a Silent Way ignites the improvised adventures of this Vancouver sextet featuring Bill Clark (trumpet), Bill Runge (saxophone), Brad Turner (keys), André Lachance (bass), Ron Samworth (guitar) and Bernie Arai (drums).
We promise a musical fiesta with Locarno on June 29th at 8 p.m., one of Vancouver’s most popular Latin-influenced bands, led by Tom Landa (Paperboys frontman). Landa’s Mexican heritage is on full display with this group’s high energy, infectious beats.
The North Shore Jazz Series will conclude on June 30th at 8 p.m., with a fun game of Sax Jeopardy. Three of Vancouver’s finest saxophonists, Cory Weeds, Steve Kaldestad and Dominic Conway will compete to test their sax trivia with a series of Name That Tune clips. Who will be the Sax Jeopardy champion? Categories include Oh Canada, Sax Through the Ages, What the Sax? and Beyond Jazz. This is a free offering that is part of our Backstage at CapU series.
For tickets and information: capilanou.ca/centre.
